DARLINGTON – Mineral Point had Darlington down to its final out on Friday night, but the Redbirds didn’t panic. Instead, they got down to work.

The Redbirds (6-2, 3-0 SWAL) scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Pointers for a come-from-behind 6-5 SWAL victory at Otto Ruf Field on April 22.

Shortstop Will Schwartz started the rally by getting hit by a pitch, and he quickly stole second to get into scoring position. Catcher Tyler Osterday followed with a RBI-single to cut the 5-4, and came in for the tying run on a RBI-double to centerfield by pitcher Jesse Sturtz.

Then, second baseman Tyler Torstenson-Harris stepped to the plate and drove a single up the middle and Sturtz beat the throw to the plate to give the ‘Birds a 6-5 win.

Sturtz (3-1) earned the complete-game victory on the mound, allowing five runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks with three strikeouts. He helped his own cause by driving in a run and scoring twice in the game.

Outfielder Brayden McDonald went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while Schwartz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Osterday and Torstenson-Harris drove in two runs apiece for the ‘Birds. 

After Darlington grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third inning, the Pointers struck for four runs of their own in the top of the fourth to overtake the hosts. MP added an insurance run in the fifth and had the ‘Birds down to their final out, but they could not finish them off.

  Darlington’s SWAL game against Riverdale on Tuesday, April 19, was postponed due to rain. It will be made up at home on Thursday, April 28.

On Monday, their non-conference make-up game against Lancaster was called off due to a communication issue between the teams.

The Redbirds have SWAL home games scheduled against Southwestern on Friday, April 29, and Fennimore on Tuesday, May 3. All three games are set to start at 4:30 p.m.

Mineral Point… 000  401  0 – 5  3  1

Darlington……. 003  000  3 – 6  9  6

Leading hitters: Brayden McDonald 2x4, Will Schwartz 2x3, Hayden Hardyman 2x3. 2B- McDonald (2), Jesse Sturtz.

WP- Sturtz. LP- James.